The Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Welfare of privately fostered children

108.—(1) Every authority shall—

(a) satisfy itself that the welfare of children who are privately fostered within the authority’s area is being satisfactorily safeguarded and promoted; and

(b) secure that such advice is given to those caring for them as appears to the authority to be needed.

(2) The Department may make regulations—

(a) requiring every child who is privately fostered within an authority’s area to be visited by an officer of the authority—

(i) in prescribed circumstances; and

(ii) on specified occasions or within specified periods; and

(b) imposing requirements which are to be met by any authority, or officer of an authority, in carrying out functions under this Article.

(3) Where any person who is authorised by an authority to visit privately fostered children has reasonable cause to believe that—

(a) any privately fostered child is being accommodated in premises within the authority’s area; or

(b) it is proposed to accommodate any such child in any such premises,

he may at any reasonable time inspect those premises and any children there.

(4) Any person exercising the power under paragraph (3) shall, if so required, produce some duly authenticated document showing his authority to do so.

(5) If an authority is not satisfied that the welfare of any child who is privately fostered within the authority’s area is being satisfactorily safeguarded or promoted the authority shall—

(a) unless it considers that it would not be in the best interests of the child, take such steps as are reasonably practicable to secure that the care and accommodation of the child is undertaken by—

(i) a parent of his;

(ii) any person who is not a parent of his but who has parental responsibility for him; or

(iii) a relative of his; and

(b) consider the extent to which (if at all) it should exercise any of its functions under this Order with respect to the child.